A tale of two economies

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity..." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities). One wonders why Dickens wonderful examples of antithesis come to mind when thinking of the report recommending pay cuts for Members of the House of Assembly (MHAs).
Perhaps it's the fact we're reverting to a time when there was no appreciable middle class, and the poor were relegated to the scrap heap intellectually and financially that it now seems to be the worst of times. Yet, times are better than they have ever been for a small number of people who hang onto the economic coattails of the corporate elite.
Perhaps it's the fact that we seem to be in an age of wisdom, where all and sundry are exposed to education and culture. Yet the abject foolishness of war and mayhem that abound is striking in its simplicity.
Perhaps it's because we are in a period where beliefs and the religious wars, which spring from them, seem to dominate our every waking moment. Yet, at the same time, incredulity is fashionable, and more and more people are possessed by a lack of belief and wear it proudly upon their sleeves.
You may, or may not, be aware that our province isn't the only place where the salaries of elected officials are under review. Once again we are less than original. Great Britain has already put the brakes on the salaries of its elected officials. The lemmings say it's time to rein in the salaries of those whom we elect to govern.
Following the antithesis principle, it could be said that it is time to roll back salaries, it is time to increase salaries. To paraphrase Randy Simms on the CBC, "the salaries of many elected MHAs represent more money than they ever thought possible."
Mr. Collins is right. From that perspective MHA's salaries are perfectly fine and way above the income of the majority of their constituents. And it certainly makes one wonder why their salaries jumped from $43,866 in 2004 (according to a CBC article Sept. 2, 2004) to $102,984 in 2009. While the income of the provinces' poorest citizens remained stagnant, the increase for MHAs was staggering. Follow the lemmings; roll back the salaries.
But wait a minute, money talks is the well-known adage. Think about it. How much credibility does a person who makes $100,000 annual salary have in a room full of oil and gas tycoons or corporate backers of foreign wars who want to bomb a country?
Our politicians are dealing with the egos of executives whose salaries jumped from 45-1(executive to worker) in 1970 to 1,723-1 in 2006 (Les Leopold, The Looting of America). This makes executive salaries of up to $25 million annually, which makes $100,000 a mere pittance.
Our society is operating within two economies and our politicians have to keep a foot in both camps. How many times have you felt pleased that the Premier is wealthy when he is negotiating deals for the province? Do you think that his wealth, whilst modest in global terms, helps him hold his own on the world stage?
On a recent trip to Venice, we visited the Doge's Palace, which was the seat of the government of Venice for centuries. It wasn't the politics that peaked my interest. My interest lay in seeing where Casanova had escaped imprisonment. But as the tour progressed governance trumped seduction.
The Venetians understood human nature and constructed their governments to prevent corruption. The Doge (elected ruler) was housed in lavish accommodations and showered with gifts, which he kept for life. However, when he died his family didn't inherit his wealth. The wealth reverted to the state.
Similarly, the Grand Counselor (elected head of the civil service) and the real ruler, was given an enormous salary making it unnecessary for him to accept bribes to feather his nest. But his office was as small and bare as possible.
As well, no son of the Counselor could become Counselor, preventing entitlement and leadership by succession. With human nature such as it is, the organization could not cover all eventualities… one son actually did succeed his father to become Counselor. Still, Venice did make a stellar attempt to limit temptation.
Despite that odd discrepancy, and also of one Doge who plotted a coup and was beheaded, the system seems to have work well. In the Doge's palace a black curtain, instead of an oil painting of the Doge, stands testimony to what could happen when you put your personal interest above the interests of the people. That Doge lives in infamy.
The Venetians recognized the inescapable fact that humans are selfish, weak, fragile creatures, often unable to overcome the influence of others whom they see as more important. Perhaps, until we see fit to rein in the salaries of the corporate elite, we should make certain our politicians don't have to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.